Cluster villages being built for erosion victims in Gaibandha

A cluster village being built at Bekrir Char in Sundarganj upazila of Gaibandha for the victims of river erosion is nearing completion. PHOTO: STAR

Construction of two cluster villages is going on in full swing in Sunderganj upazila to rehabilitate 80 families, who were rendered homeless by Teesta River erosion.
More than 80 percent work of Latshala cluster village in Tarapur union and 30 percent of the other at Bekrir Char in Belka union are already complete, said an official of land ministry.
The ministry allocated Tk 1.26 crore for implementation of the cluster villages, he said.
The government undertook a project to set up the villages in remote char (newly emerged landmass) areas along the river for the erosion-hit people, said Zahirul Islam, project implementation officer, Sundarganj.
Erosion by the river renders a large number of people homeless every year. Many of them took shelter on flood control embankment while the rest migrated to the char areas, he said.
Apart from getting shelter, the villagers would be provided with sanitation, water supply and education facilities for children, said Ahsan Habib, upazila nirbahi officer.
He hoped that the construction of the cluster villages would be completed by June this year.